UNCONTESTED DIVORCE. This is the easiest and cheapest way to get divorced. In an uncontested divorce, a married couple signs written agreements including a Marital Dissolution Agreement (MDA) which is a contract for the fair division of marital property and marital debt. If the couple has children, a Permanent Parenting Plan is prepared which provides for each parties’ participation in the lives of the children. This method obviously requires agreements between the spouses, ahead of time, or gained through mediation.
Child Support
CONTESTED DIVORCE. When two spouses cannot agree upon a fair division of marital property and marital debt, or upon how they should share custody of children after a divorce, the only way to get divorced is for one spouse to file a lawsuit against the other spouse for divorce. Once the other spouse is “served†with the divorce (given an official copy), they have 30 days to file an “Answer†. Ultimately, if the parties cannot ultimately agree upon the terms of an agreed divorce before a trial, a Judge will hear testimony from both spouses and other witnesses if necessary, and will give his or her decision as to what constitutes a fair division of marital property and marital debt, whether or not alimony is appropriate, and if applicable, which parent should be the primary custodial parent, how much parenting time the alternate residential parent should have, and who should pay what amount of child support.
Child Custody and Visitation
The Lawyers of Patton & Hyder keep up with these ever-changing laws and can guide you through such emotionally-charged matters as divorces, child custody modifications and adoptions.
D.U.I. / Driving Under the Influence is a serious crime in Tennessee and has serious legal consequences. DO NOT assume that you can handle a charge of D.U.I. without SERIOUS ADVICE from a serious attorney. The criminal defense team at Patton & Hyder is staying up to date on all the latest developments in the ever- evolving body of D.U.I law in Tennessee state courts and the federal courts of the United States. These cases involve real people, perhaps just like you. We study how juries and Judges have evaluated the facts of these cases and decided the issues of law. Chances are, your case is not exactly like the facts in these cases. But we use these binding court decisions to evaluate your case. Then we develop and refine your defense to your case.
DUI/DWI
Every driving under the influence (DUI) case I have had has been different. But inevitably, a law enforcement officer, at some point, asks the question “How many drinks have you had tonight?”
Wrongful Death
A wrongful death claim is a tort action filed when the death of an individual occurs as the result of the negligent, careless, or reckless actions (or inactions) of a person or entity. There is a specified time period for filing this type of claim, called a statute of limitations. These types of lawsuits are usually brought by family members of the victim, and recovery can include compensation for suffering of the victim and for your emotional and financial losses. Call us today to discuss your case with a compassionate attorney who will listen to your story and aggressively fight for every dollar you deserve.
Traffic Violations
Also, you should know that you have the right to say no when an officer politely asks if he or she can search your vehicle. With very limited exceptions, an officer must have probable cause to conduct a search of your vehicle. Recent TN case law provides that when you are stopped for speeding, an expired tag, or some similar violation of the law, for which you would normally be issued a citation and allowed to go on your way, that stop cannot be unreasonably prolonged, for instance, while a K-9 unit (drug dog) is dispatched to sniff around your vehicle.
Choosing the right structure for your business can be very important to the life and success of your company. Common forms include sole proprietorships, partnerships, corporations, and limited liability companies. While sole proprietorships are the easiest to set up, they offer the least protection from liability for the owner. One of the benefits is you are taxed on the business income only once, and on your personal tax return. Partnerships are similar in this respect, the only difference being a partnership is simply two or more people or entities coming together to do business. A corporation is a separate entity. It can enter into contracts, sue and be sued, and incur debt. It is owned by shareholders, and can be in the form of a C corporation or an S corporation. A limited liability company offers the protection of a corporation, but has added tax benefits for the members. Our attorneys are experienced in business structuring and can guide you and your business to a path of success.
Tennessee has a one year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death claims. This means you must file suit against the parties responsible for your injuries or the wrongful death within one year from the date you were injured or your loved one was killed, or forever lose the right to do so.
Social Security Disability
If you have been injured or struck by a physical or mental illness that will no longer allow you to work, you should investigate whether or not you qualify for Social Security disability benefits. Earl Patton knows Social Security disability law and can help you navigate the Social Security Administration’s system of determining whether or not you qualify for benefits. We will make sure that...
Effective estate planning provides you peace of mind that your family and loved ones are protected in the event of your incapacity or death. It allows you to decide what will happen with your assets upon your death. Often times the worst conflicts between families arise when loved ones pass away or becomes too ill to make decisions for themselves, and there is no plan in place to direct what should happen next and who should get what. A comprehensive plan will make the potential for family conflicts less likely. Every person’s situation is different, and at the law firm of Patton & Hyder we will take the time to evaluate your family dynamic and financial affairs to provide a professionally crafted estate plan to meet your specific needs.